Citadels 4th Edition
Citadels 4th Edition
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| 2 to 8 players | 30 to 60 min | Ages 10+ |
Citadels is a game of bluffing, intrigue, and city-building for 2 to 8 players, designed by Bruno Faidutti and published in over 25 languages since its creation in 2000. Each player builds their medieval city by accumulating gold and constructing districts, but it's the secret character selection that makes the game so rich: Assassin, Thief, King, Merchant, Architect, Warlord… each role offers a unique power and can ruin—or save—anyone's plans at the table. This fourth edition is the most complete ever published: it brings together the base game, the Dark City expansion, 9 new characters, and 12 never-before-seen districts in a compact and elegant format.
How to play Citadels?
Game Setup
- Each player receives 4 District cardsin hand, 2 gold coinsand a player aid card.
- Draw lots to determine the first player, who receives the crown—they will be the first to choose their character.
- Separate the 27 Character cardsinto 9 groups of 3 (numbered 1 to 9). For each number, choose 1 of the 3 available charactersto form the game's character deck. This creates different combinations each game.
- Shuffle the 9 chosen characters and set aside a certain number face down according to the number of players—there must always be 1 more card than the number of playersin the selection deck.
Gameplay outline
Each round consists of two phases:
- Character Selection Phase: The player with the crown takes the available Character cards, secretly chooses one, optionally discards one face down (depending on the number of players), then passes the rest to their neighbor. Each player thus secretly chooses a character — no one knows who is playing which role.
- Game Phase: Characters are called in numerical order (1 to 9). The player with that character reveals themselves and plays their turn:
They take 2 gold pieces OR draw 2 District cards(and keep one).
They use their special abilityat any point during their turn.
They can build a districtby paying its gold cost — only one per turn, except for the Architect.
The character abilitiescreate all the tension: the Assassin eliminates a character for an entire turn, the Thief steals gold from a targeted character, the Condottiere destroys an opponent's district, the Magician swaps their hand with another player, the King reclaims the crown and draws gold based on their noble districts...
Win/Loss Condition
The game ends as soon as a player builds their 8th district(the current round is finished). Points are then counted:
- Gold value of each district built.
- +3 pointsif the player has at least one district of each color (noble, religious, merchant, military, wonder).
- +2 pointsfor the first player to have completed their city, +1 pointfor subsequent players.
- Bonuses specific to certain Wonder districts(purple).
The player with the highest score wins the game.
Our Tips for Winning
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Play the players as much as your cards
Citadels is first and foremost a game of bluff and deduction. Observe player behavior: a player short on gold will likely choose the Thief or the Merchant. A player close to completing their city will attract the Warlord. Anticipating opponents' choices is more decisive than optimizing your own resources.
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Vary your character selection to stay unpredictable
A player who always chooses the same characters becomes transparent.Alternate between offensive and productive roleseven when it's not optimal—surprise is your best asset, especially in 5-6 player games where dirty tricks are more common.
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Prioritize Wonders with strong effects over expensive districts with no effects.
Not all purple districts are created equal. Some cost 5-6 coins without a sufficient return on their effect. Others—like the School of Magic, the Laboratory, or the Library—radically change how you play and are worth every coin invested. Knowing their list before the game will give you a decisive advantage.
FAQ – All About Citadels 4th Edition
How is this 4th edition different from the previous ones?
This is the most complete box ever published: it includes the original game, the cards from the Dark City expansion, plus 9 entirely new characters and 12 districts. The format has also been revised — a more compact box, all cards in standard US format for uniform handling, and old tokens replaced by more practical mini US cards.
Is Citadels truly a game of bluffing or strategy?
Both, but bluffing is paramount. Bruno Faidutti himself says: the only truly winning tactic is to guess what other players are doing and do what they don't expect. Construction choices are strategic, but it's the psychological reading of opponents that makes great Citadels players.
Does the game play well with 2-3 players?
Yes, but with a significant adaptation. With 2-3 players, each player controls multiple characters per turn, which makes the game more tactical and predictable. It's a different and more controlled experience, but perfectly balanced. The game reaches its full potential with 5-6 players.
Are the 27 characters balanced against each other?
Globally yes, but some characters are more powerful in certain configurations. The booklet provides combination recommendations by number of playersto ensure optimal balance. Experienced groups can also create their own custom combinations.